Videos

• Duties listed are at the full performance level of the position.
• Develops, coordinates, and implements the Heritage Resource Program on the unit, including the development of policy, immediate and long-range objectives, integration with resource activities, and establishment or priorities.
• Plans, directs, coordinates and executes surveys for the location and verification of archeological and historical sites and provides guidance to the line management in marking, protection, and salvage of these sites.
• Ensures that scientific and systematic procedures are followed in identifying, evaluating, and classifying cultural resource areas.
• Evaluates and acts upon a wide range of on-site management needs, such as the factual reporting of excavation and/or survey findings, and implements corrective measures within the framework of archeological program requirements.
• Recommends and carries out required elements for research plans related to studies, including specifying the methods and conditions under which excavations will be performed.
• Recommends and carries out the laboratory and analytical techniques to be used in artifact analysis, and the content of reports.
• Evaluates archeological and historical sites and identifies which are appropriate for inclusion to the National Register of Historic Places.
• Supervises the excavation and salvage of archeological resources protection act assessments.
• Directs the preparation of maps, inventories, reports, and records relative to the discovery, protection, inventory, salvage, and interpretation of heritage and cultural resource areas.
• Prepares technical approval for documentation submitted for program matters, including contracts, National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility criteria, and other required internal reports.
• Consults with recognized Indian Tribes under provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation (NAGPRA).
• Represents the Forest at Regional and National scientific organization and society meetings and presents technical papers on the progress of archeological activities and results of investigations.
• Prepares interpretive material and technical reports based on extensive research.
• Interpretive formats include signs, brochures, displays, videos, and other appropriate media.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
• Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.

Qualifications

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General Schedule Qualification Standards.

Your application and resume must clearly show that you possess the experience requirements. Transcripts must be provided for qualifications based on education. Provide course descriptions as necessary.

Basic Requirements for Archeologist GS-0193:
A. Education: Degree that included 3 semester hours each in the following course areas:

• History of archeology.
• Archeology of a major geographical area such as North America or Africa.
• Regional archeology, archeological cultures, or sites in a specific part or portion of a major geographical area to acquire or develop a foundation for regional specialization for professional development.
• Theory and methods of archeology. Methods include, but are not limited to, typology, classification, sampling, cultural evolution, diffusion, dating, and analytical techniques.
• Archeological field school, to provide a basic understanding of theoretical and practical approaches to research design implementation, field preservation techniques, and report preparation by participation in actual field work.

AND

• Six semester hours of related course work in:

  • geography, geology, or cultural geography;
  • history, historiography, or historical archeology;
  • environmental studies;
  • scientific writing (nonfiction English composition); and/or
  • surveying

AND

Archeological field school.

Related Curriculum: degree in anthropology (with emphasis on ethnology, physical anthropology, or scientific linguistics), history, American studies, or a related discipline may be accepted as satisfying in full the educational requirements, provided the curriculum supplied academic course work sufficiently similar to the requirements in A.1 (including archeological field school).

OR

B. Combination of Education and Experience: College-level education or training that provided knowledge equivalent to that described in A above, plus appropriate technical experience or additional education.

OR

C. Experience: Four years of archeological work experience that demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the fundamental principles and theories of professional archeology. The work experience must have included archeology field experience, which may include that gained in an archeological field school. Field experience should have included a combination of professional experience in archeological survey, excavation, laboratory analysis, and preparation of written materials. Applicants with such field experience should, after additional experience under the direction of a higher grade archeologist, be able to demonstrate the ability to be a crew chief, directing the work of others at a single location as a part of a larger archeological project.

In addition to meeting the basic requirement, you must also possess experience and/or directly related education in the amounts listed below.

Specialized Experience Requirement:

For the GS-9: You must have one year specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as performing one or more of the following:

• Assisted in conducting background studies and document reviews pertaining to archeological project development; participated in archeological survey and site evaluation work and preparation of technical reports;
• Interpreted cultural resources to public contacts in one-on-one conversations;
• Received formal and on-the-job instructions and training on the practical application of archaeological principles, theories, methods, practices, and techniques; and/or
• Developed and coordinated networks and contacts beneficial to the successful performance of archeological work assignments, such as interacting technically with colleagues and supervisors, and demonstrating the ability to work cooperatively with other persons;

OR
Master's or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.B. or J.D., if related;

OR
An appropriate combination of specialized experience and education (only graduate education in excess of 18 semester hours may be used to qualify applicants for this grade level). The education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university and must be directly related to the position being filled.

For the GS-11: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 in the Federal service. Specialized experience is defined as performing one or more of the following:

• Performed standard tasks or portions of larger projects of an archeological program, such as conducted performance studies and examined historical research documents pertaining to project development;
• Interpreted cultural resources to public and professional audiences through presentations, exhibit development, or publication in professional journals;
• Assisted professional archeologists in developing/enhancing archeological program components, such as scientific reporting, records and database management, and cultural resource condition monitoring; and/or
• Evaluated problems associated with archeological site protection and implemented corrective measures within the framework of archeological program and legal requirements;

OR
3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree (coursework directly related to position being filled);

OR
An appropriate combination of specialized experience and graduate level education (beyond what is required for a master's degree, i.e., more than 36 semester hours leading to a Ph.D.).

Work Experience: Your resume must clearly document the following for each block of work experience; the beginning day, month and year the work assignment started and ended; the hours worked per week; position title, and series and grade if applicable; and description of duties performed. This information must be provided for each permanent, temporary, or seasonal appointment/work assignment or volunteer work and should be clearly documented as a separate block of time. Incomplete, inaccurate, or conflicting work history may not be credited for qualifications purposes. This can result in an applicant not being considered for the position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated in accordance with the category rating procedure as defined in the USDA Demonstration Project Plan. Applicants who meet the basic minimum qualification requirements established for the position will be placed in the Eligible category. You will be further evaluated against criteria for placement in the Quality category. This evaluation is based on the level of your experience, education, and/or training as determined by your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire. Individuals with veterans' preference are listed ahead of applicants who do not have veterans' preference within each category.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your abilities, or you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12105294